Bipolar Disorder vs. ADHD: How to Tell Them Apart

Bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two different mental health conditions, yet they can look surprisingly similar. Because some symptoms overlap, figuring out which one you’re dealing with can be challenging—even for professionals. Getting the right diagnosis, however, is key to choosing the right treatment and improving daily life.

What Bipolar Disorder Looks Like

People with bipolar disorder experience major mood shifts. These shifts usually move between:

• Mania or hypomania: unusually high energy, excitement, irritability, or risk-taking behavior

• Depression: low energy, sadness, hopelessness, or slowed activity

  
  

How often these mood swings occur varies widely. Some people have multiple episodes in a year; others only have a few throughout their lives.

Children with early-onset bipolar disorder often cycle more rapidly and may show more intense symptoms than adults.

What ADHD Looks Like

ADHD affects attention, impulse control, and activity level. It generally falls into three types:

• Inattentive

• Hyperactive-impulsive

• Combined

  
  

Common signs can include trouble staying focused, losing things, difficulty following instructions, fidgeting, or acting without thinking. These behaviors must show up in at least two parts of life—such as school, work, or home—to be considered ADHD.

Symptoms almost always start before age 12.

Where They Overlap—and Where They Don’t

Some experiences can show up in both conditions:

• High energy or constant motion

• Irritability

• Fast speech

• Racing thoughts

• Trouble concentrating

  
  

Because of this overlap, many children and adults are diagnosed with both conditions.

The key difference:

• Bipolar disorder is mainly about mood cycles.

• ADHD is mainly about consistent behavior and attention challenges, not mood episodes.

ADHD symptoms are steady and long-term, while bipolar symptoms tend to come in waves.

Bipolar disorder more commonly appears in the late teen years or early adulthood.

How Doctors Diagnose Each Condition

A mental health professional must make the diagnosis; neither condition can be self-diagnosed.

ADHD diagnosis:

• Symptoms must have started in childhood

• Includes long-lasting issues with attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity

  
  

Bipolar disorder diagnosis:

• A manic episode lasting at least a week (or requiring hospitalization)

• Depressive episodes lasting at least two weeks

Your provider will ask about your symptoms, health history, family history, and daily life to determine what’s going on.

Treatment Options

There’s no cure for either condition, but both can be managed effectively. Treatment often includes:

• Medication

• Therapy

• Lifestyle adjustments

• Support for school, work, or relationships

Children with ADHD often improve with treatment and support. People with bipolar disorder can also live well with proper care, though untreated mood episodes may become more frequent over time.

The Bottom Line

ADHD and bipolar disorder can look alike—but they’re not the same. ADHD begins in early childhood, while bipolar disorder usually develops later and is defined by major mood episodes. If you’re noticing symptoms that disrupt your daily life, talking with a mental health professional is the best first step toward clarity and support.